Inclosed-switch mechanism



Patented Aug. 14, 1,928.

.UNITED STATI-:s

vPlvrlralv'r OFFICE.

OLIVR S. JENNING-S AND FRED G. VON HOORN, OF MAN SFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNORSTO v v WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AN'D MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION0F PENNSYLVANIA.

Application led June 25,

Our invention relates to' inclosed switch mechanism and particularly toinclosed switches for controlling lighting circuits and small motors.

`An object of our invention is to provide an inclosed switch wherein theswitch and fuse are mounted upon a sheet-metal carrier to constitute aremovable unit that is detachably mounted in a sheet-metal housing orbox. o

Another object of our invention is to provide an inclosed switch havingthe abovenoted characteristics that may be connected to the conductorsbefore the switch mechanism is placed within the housing, and

wherein a minimum lnumber of parts are required.

A further object of our invention 1s to provide an inclosed switch thatis simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects that will bemade a parent throughout the furtherdescription ci) vour invention are attained by means of the switchapparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawin wherein igure 1 is a plan view of an inclosed switch apparatusembodying features of our` invention, the cover being partially cut awayfor the purpose of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch box disclosed in Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is atop plan view of a switch base carrier constituting a part ofour invention; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are end'elevational views,

res ectively, of the carrier shown'in Fig. 3. eferring to the drawings,the apparatus includes a sheet-metal housing having a bottom wall 6,side walls 7 and 8, and end. walls v9 and 11. A fsheet-metal cover l2 ishinged to lugs 13 on the housing by means of hin e rivets 14. l

' e switch unit includes a sheet-metal carrier 15 ccnsisting of a bottomsection 16 and flanges 17 and 18 that tit snugly within the housingbetween the side walls 7 and 8. The carrier is adapted to be securedwithin the 60 housin and 1s, therefore, provided with a pair o keyholeslots 1,9 disposed on offset portions 21 .in the bottoml section;116.kThe oset' portions 21 en age` inward projections 22 in the bottom wav 6of the housing. The

lwith slotsl 41 of L-shape, the short legs 42 IN CLOSED-SWITCHMECHANISM.

1927. Serial No. 201,313.

projections are provided with threaded openings in which attachin screws23 'are threaded. The threaded en s of the screws lie within the recess24 formed by the projections 22 and, therefore, do not project beyondthe outer face of the bottom wall of the housing.

The carrier is secured within the housing by Iirst being inserted sothat the enlarged portions of the keyhole slots 19 fit over the eads ofthe screws 23 which have first been backed away from the inner face ofthe projections 22. The carrier is then moved downward or longitudinallyof the housing so that the heads of the screws extend over the narrow-portions of the keyhole slots. The screws are then tightened. Lugs 25are struck up from the edges of the slots and serve to preventlongitudinal ,displacement of the carrier with respect to the housing incase the screws become slightly loosened.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the switch apparatus includes aninsulating base 26 upon which a hinge contact jaw 27 and a switchcontact jaw 28 are mounted. A switch blade 29 is pivot-ally mounted inthe hinge jaw 27 and is movable into and out of engagement with thecontact jaw 28 by means of an operating handle or bail 3l that isjournalled in bearing openings 32 in the flanges 17 and 18 of thecarrier. The 85 bail 31 1s connected to the switch blade by means of aninsulating clip 33 that is secured to the switch blade by means ofrivets 34, thebail fitting in a slot 35, as indicated in Fig. 2.

A fuse receptacle 36 for receiving a. standard screw-plug fuse (notshown) is mounted I on the insulating base 26 in such position that theoffset portion 37 of the bail lies above the receptacle, when the switchis in/95 the closed position and prevents removal of the fusewithoutfirst opening the switch.

The fuse receptacle and switch are prov vided with terminals 38 and 39,respectively, to which the line conductors are attached in such mannerthat the fuseand switch are connected in series.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the side walls 7y and 8 of the housingare -provided HNI of the slots extending in a direction parallel to thebottom wall of the housing:` The slots are provided to permit the bail31 to move into them when the carrier 15 is being assembled with respectto the housing.. The journal portions 43 and 44 of the bail slide intothe portion 42 of the slot 41 when the carrier is moved downwardlongitudinally with respect to -the housing to bring the slots 19 intothe locking position with respect to the screws 23. It will be seen thatthe bail servesto prevent outward detach ing movement of the carrier andassist the screws 23 in retaining the carrier in assembled position. Thebail will serve to retain the carrier in operative position even thoughthe screws 23 should become loosened.

The limit stop 45 for limiting the closing movement of the operatinghandle 31 is struck from the side wall 8, and the hole 46 resulting fromthe striking of the stop 45 from the side wall, is closed by the iange18 provided with a limit stop 47 that constitutes an integral part ofthe flange 18. This stop is engaged by the operating bail or handle 31whenthe switch has been moved to its extreme open position.

tegral latch tongue 48 that projects through an opening 49 in the cover12 when the latter is in the closed position indicated in Fig. 2.The-latch is provided with'a-n integral up-struck lug 51 that snaps overthe edge of the lopening 49 when the cover is in closed J-position andserves to releasably retain it in closed position. .A hole 52 isprovided inthe latch 48 through which the h'aspl of a lock may beinserted for locking the cover in closed position. i y

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the switch construction isrelatively simple and inexpensive, and that the assembly of the switchis facilitated by the unit construction of the carrier and insulatingswitch base.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying our inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof and we desire,therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as areimposed by the prior art or set forth in the appended claims. A

We claim as our invention:

1. Inclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a housing, acarrier for a current-controlling device having side ianges v fittingbetween the walls of the housing, and 55 means on the bottom and sidewalls of the housing for engaging means on the carrier and flanges whenrelatively moved longitudianally for preventing withdrawal of thecarrier from the housing. f

2. Aninclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a sheet-materialhousing 'having an inward projection in its bottom wall, a threadedattaching screw threaded in the projection and a sheet material carrierfor a current controlling device adapted to of the carrier. The end ofthe flange 18 isrest upon the Abottom of the housing and having aportion offset therefrom to seat upon the projection, the said o'setportion being provided with a keyhole slot for engaging the said screwand permitting detachment of the carrier from the housing withoutnecessitating removal of the screw from the bottom wall.

3. An inclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a sheet-materialhousing having an inward projection in its bottom wall, a threadedattaching screw threaded in the projection and a sheet-material carrierfor a current-controlling device adapted to rest upon the bottom of thehousing and having a portion offset therefrom to Seat upon theprojection and side flanges for engaging the side walls of the housing,the said offset portion being provided with a keyhole slot for engagingthe said screw, the said side walls of the housing being provided withslots of L-shape and the said flanges supporting means for engaging thelast said slots for preventing accidental withdrawal of the carrier.

4. An inclosed. current-controlling mechanism comprising asheet-material housing having side walls provided with slots of L-shape, a sheet-material carrier for a current- -controlling devicehaving flanges engaging tite said side walls of the housing, anoperating Jhaft for the said device carried by the v anges and engagingthe said slots for preventing accidental withdrawal of the said carrierfrom the housing.l Y

5. An inclosed current-controlling mechanism" comprising asheet-material housing having side walls provided with slots of L-shape, a sheet-materialcarrier for a currentcontrolling device havingflanges engaging the said side walls of the housing,- an operating shaftfor the said device carried by the flanges and engaging the said slots,the said housing having an adjustable attaching'-O means on the bottomwall thereof and the said carrier having a keyhole slot for engaging thesaid means, the said adjustable means and operating shaft serving toprevent accidental withdrawal of the carrier from the housing. e

6. A11 inclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising asheet-material housing having side walls, a sheet-material carrier for acurrent-controlling device having flanges adjacent the said walls of thehousing, an operating means for the said device, a limit stop for thesaid means struck from a side wall of the housing at a point covered bya flange of the carrier, the said flange serving to cover the openingresulting from striking out the said stop.

7. An inclosed current-controlling mechanism comprising a sheet-materialhousing having side walls, a sheet-material carrier for acurrent-controlling Ldevice havinglgo-l not flanges adjacent the sidewalls of houswith the said carrier for projecting through;

5 the said opening and serving to releasably retain the cover in closedposition. p

8. Inclosd switch mechanism comprising a. housing, an insulating base, acarrier there'- for to which lthe base is attached for-assem- 10 `bly asa unit within the housing, the sai'd housing having adjustable attachingmeans and the said carrier having aV keyhole slot for cooperating withthe said means, whereby the carrier is detachably secured withinA thehousing.

In testimony whereof, wev have herento subscribed our names this 18 dayof June,

OLIVER S. JENNINGS.

' VFRED G. voN HOORN.

